19 August 2018
As of 5:10 pm Saturday 18 August 2018, Andahuaylas and its
surrounds is on the air with Diospi Suyana FM 96.1 MHz. This is 3 of our 6 sites to launch as part of
our initial rollout phase.
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| Our FM antenna bearing on the city of Andahuaylas. |
It was another FM installation with its own set of unique
challenges for us.
Being one of the
first transmitter systems purchased by Diospi Suyana some 2 years ago, but its
installation delayed due to a long string of problems not untypical in Peru.
This meant that the system was in storage for
this extended period, and I discovered the preparation process that the 1-5/8”
RF cable connectors had been lost due to multiple relocations of the Diospi
Suyana store during this time.
Sourcing
such specialised RF connectors quickly in Perú is not a trivial task.
But a pair was eventually found from a vendor
in Lima, so our installation proceeded on schedule.
Then we had delays with the power connection by the
electrical authority, Electro Sur. After
arriving on Monday, we did not see power at our site until Thursday. Anyone familiar with installing sites will
know how frustrating it is not to have power for tools, testing etc. We were able to get access to a generator,
but not without its own set of issues and delays. The second hand HV transformer was then found
to be faulty. And then the new
replacement they installed the wrong one with half the needed capacity! It was enough to get by for now, but much
patience is needed here.
Then the satellite pole was not in the correct location to
enable it to point to our satellite. So
we had to get a new 6” diameter steel post sent overnight from Curahuasi while
our team dug another 1.4m hole in the rocky soil for the foundation. And more concrete, sand and gravel was
purchased and delivered in loads with our new Toyota Hilux. Followed by multiple trips to cart the needed
water to the site. With the most amazing
rapid effort of manual digging I have seen, we had the new pole installed
within 24 hours of me realising the mistaken location. And with quick setting cement and some
creative foundation steelwork welding to support the post, we had the satellite
antenna installed that same afternoon and we were on the air – truly an amazing
effort!
Temperatures in Andahuaylas dropped to near zero (1°C) overnight
due to its 2,926 m altitude.
Our Centro de Medios manager Doris Manco’s father died of cancer
in Lima early Sunday morning (terribly sad for all and a most difficult time
for Doris) but he was told of our successful launch the day before by his
daughter. So Doris had to urgently
return to Lima first thing that morning.
The good news is that he was a faithful Christian and supporter of
Diospi Suyana, and we have the absolute assurance we will meet again in heaven.
But with lots of prayer and a resilient team of 4 Diospi
Suyana staff, 2 equipment supplier contractors and me, we saw fruit to our
labour after 6 days (all 12+ hours) with the launch of FM 96.1 MHz. Then another 12 hour day to complete our installation
work on the Sunday with the security system.
My previously publicised Andahuaylas radio reach was estimated
to be 80,000. But I now believe we are
covering many more habitants based on the latest the Perú 2017 census figures
which have just come to hand. I am
working on updating those figures based on our coverage predictions and hope to
update these soon.
Following is a photo montage of some installation highlight
moments.
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| Overlooking farmers’ crops – Diospi tower is on the very left. |
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| Our installation team in front of the Andahuaylas FM site from left to right: me, Doris, Americo (contracted rigger), Euloguio, Cristobal and Luis (contracted equipment supplier). |
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| Power is connected by the Electro Sur linesman. |
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| Electrical pole access the cheap way – no cherry pickers here as used in Australia (and a very different WHS model in Perú). |
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| My selfie of lunch time on site (with a few drop-in visitors). |
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| Euloguio and Cristobal making lightning work of a new mounting hole in rocky ground. |
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| A view of the satellite antenna through the open transmit port – our telemetry signal returns to Curahuasi through this. |
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| Lifting the satellite dish onto its final mounting post. |
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| Our satellite is commissioned on Intelsat using our R&S ETL brought out from Australia. Thanks to R&S Australia for their support with this instrument. |
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| My telemetry / security system install with thanks to support from Steve Schilg of Maximation in Australia. |
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| An end of day completion of work up the tower (that’s me with the rigger toward the top) |
Here are some examples of the many messages that have flooded into our Curahuasi studios (Centro de Medios) every day following our Andahuaylas service commencement:
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| Translation: “Thanks to you also for using her (our announcer) as we experience the voice of our Father through her. We are always waiting for your program and it is a joy for me... so may God continue to bless your program. Thank you” |
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| Translation: “Hello brother very good afternoon. My name is Roxana I am from Andahuaylas and it is the first time I listen to your radio – it is a great blessing.” |
Saludos cordiales (Best regards
J),
Chris
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